Sport & Activities
Sailing
Enthusiasts are well catered for on St Maarten. The island is one of the Caribbean’s leading sailing venues, hosting the Heineken Regatta every year. Accommodation for boats is often luxurious. The island has around 12 marinas in beautiful settings, which are well equipped, with some even providing cable television connections. All kinds of vessels can be rented at marinas, from motorboats and yachts to canoes. For those not wishing to pilot their own boat, charter companies offer day trips to other islands, and ‘picnic sails’ take visitors to secluded bays and nearby uninhabited islands.
Watersports
Expeditions for deep sea fishing can be arranged, with half- and full-day charters available all year round. Bareboat charters are also available. Conditions are excellent for diving, with coral reefs located close to the shore. One of the most popular dive sites is the wreck of HMS Proselyte, a British man-of-war which sank in 1801. There are also many good sites for snorkelling. Bodyboarding is popular. Equipment for the full range of watersports can be hired through hotels or at the numerous dive shops on the island.
Other
Both cycling and mountain biking can be pursued on the coastal road and along the trails around Paradise Peak. There are excellent views. Most large hotels have their own swimming pools and tennis courts. Horseriding expeditions can be arranged for riders of all levels.
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